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Over-50s feel ignored by brand marketers
Those in the over-50 age group believe brands just aren't interested in them, according to new survey results released by High50.
The over-50s have more free time and substantial disposable income. They experience high levels of positivity that stem from having more time to do the things they enjoy and knowing what they want.
Yet, according to a survey of 1,305 people between the age of 50 and 64 conducted by High50, a online global community designed for people over the age of 50, two-thirds feel that brands are 'not at all' or 'barely' interested in targeting them. A fifth believes they are totally excluded from brand marketing.
Technology brands such as Apple and Samsung were among those perceived to ignore over-50s the most with almost all, 95%, believing they were completely overlooked. YouTube performed the worst with just 3% of those surveyed believing the video network was targeted to them. Yet a fifth of survey respondents said they can't live without computer technology and a smartphone.
The brand that was perceived to directly target the older age group was Marks & Spencer (55%) followed by John Lewis (38%) and the BBC (31%).
"Our most economically powerful generation is one that is largely ignored by advertisers," said James Burrows, CEO of High50. "It is clear that existing preconceptions about the over fifties is significantly out-dated, and it's time we acknowledged that for many, becoming 50 is the start of the better half of their lives."
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Raiffeisenbank's chief economist Helena Horská said this during the
presentation of the Export Index (IE), adding that for 2Q 2022 the
sector's decline could ease to -2 to -3.2%. Meanwhile, the
performance of exports will be dampened by persistent
complications in the industry. Otto Daněk, vice-chairman of the
Association of Exporters, clarified that the main problem is not the
lack of orders and the lack of workers, but whether there will be
enough to produce from.

domain: news


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The Communication Group is understood to be facing a mass senior director level walkout this week as three of its six-strong board resign.
Group MD Peter Hamilton refused to confirm speculation that consumer division chairman Julie McGarvey, Scotland MD Cameron Grant and financial practice chief Henry Faure Walker were all poised to leave the agency.
PR Week understands that McGarvey and Grant are set to launch their own consumer PR agency in the near future. Due to contractual obligations neither would comment but it is understood they both tendered their resignations to Hamilton last week.
Grant has spent just over a year as TCG's Scottish MD. He has been with the agency for three years having joined from food and drink specialist Mulcaster Public Relations.
Meanwhile financial division MD Faure Walker is leaving the agency to study for an MBA at INSEAD in Paris. He will start in the new year at the high-profile French business school, which counts Conservative leader William Hague among its alumni.
Divisional director Sam Vallings has stepped into the financial MD role. He joined TCG four years ago from Grandfield. It is not yet clear whether Vallings will take Faure Walker's seat on the main board. His divisional director post has been filled by the promotion of account handler Tom Allison.
The financial practice works for clients including stadium group Wembley, hotel chain Heron International and retail entrepreneur Philip Green.
The Communication Group ranked 34 in PR Week's Top 150 with fee income of pounds 3,761,000.


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Moms have spoken: The minivan is no longer their car of choice.
Over the past decade, sales of the car once synonymous with ‘family hauler’ have plummeted. In 2000, 1.37 million minivans were sold in the United States. Last year, sales barely topped a measly half million.
Ford and General Motors no longer make minivans at all. Minivan sales are down another 10 percent so far this year, reports CNBC, even though the overall market is up 8.4 percent.
Mother’s Day weekend is upon us, so we thought it was the perfect time to not only make note of the mom-minivan exodus, but to also dole out some advice. Moms may know what they’re taking off their car-shopping lists. Here’s a few cars they can add in their place.
5. Honda Accord
Sticker price: $21,680 to $33,430
Invoice: $19,849 to $30,567
Fuel economy: 24 city/34 highway
Fads like the minivan have come and gone throughout the history of the auto industry. The sedan has been a constant.
And right now, there aren’t many better than the Accord, which has been at or near the top of its class for the better part of two decades. There aren’t many more reliable cars. There aren’t many more that get 34 miles per gallon on the highway.
What’s new in the latest version is a sportier drive. We really like the responsive, agile driving dynamics now offered. A backup rear-view camera also comes standard.
Sticker price: $19,940 to $24,470
Invoice: $17,511 to $19,822
Fuel economy: 21 city/28 highway
OK, we’re cheating here a bit. The Mazda5 is not officially considered a minivan, but it sure looks like one. Replete with sliding doors and three rows of seats, this might be a good options for moms who don’t mind a minivan but don’t like driving a bigger car.
The mini minivan, if you will, operates with a vertical lift in the back, rear-view backup cameras come standard on Touring and Grand Touring trim levels and six standard airbags for all three rows of seating. The car earned “Recommended” status from Consumer Reports, and is an affordable alternative to normal-sized minivans that cost twice as much.
3. Ford Flex
Sticker price: $31,100 to $44,120
Invoice: $29,312 to $41,143
Fuel economy: 18 city/25 highway
In recent years, the Flex has been a terrific alternative for parents who want a third row of seats without the stigma of a minivan along with them.
It’s powered by a 285-horsepower, V6 engine and comes with 83.2 cubic feet of cargo room. It may be the only car on the market that is more boxy than a Volvo, but the exterior styling on the Flex also looks plenty rugged.
We like its look and performance. Six airbags come standard. The ride is quiet. The only demerit here is Ford’s pesky MyFord Touch infotainment system.
2. Volvo V60
Sticker price: Not yet announced, but expected to be around $44,000
Fuel economy: 20 city/29 highway
You may have thought the only thing more unpopular than a minivan, in the eyes of status-conscious parents, would be a station wagon. Wrong. Wagons are blending sturdy performance with a new infusion of style.
There are several models we like. But one that caught our eye recently is the Volvo V60, a new offering for the 2014 model year. Standard models of this sleek machine come with some serious safety swag, including collision warning with full auto brake, cyclist detection and blind-spot warnings. A perfect car for a mom who wants to haul kayaks and skis, especially if they’re her own.
1. Buick Encore
Sticker price: $24,200 to $29,690
Invoice: $23,232 to $28,502
Fuel economy: 25 city/33 highway
When Buick launched this smaller crossover, experts weren’t quite sure what to make of this miniature version of the brand’s Enclave. Buyers knew exactly what to make of it.
The fuel-efficient crossover has been a brisk seller in its first few months on the market, selling more than 7,000 units. We suspect this is a perfect vehicle for moms, who will appreciate the quiet ride, leather interior in top two trim levels, ability to fit two kids in the roomy rear seats and cargo room to spare.
Most importantly, perhaps, the Encore comes with 10 standard airbags.


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Jamaican lottery scammers targeting Racine residents, police say
The Jamaican lottery scam that's been spreading in the past six years is now hitting Racine, according to authorities.
The Racine County sheriff''s office sent out a warning Tuesday, saying officers have seen an increase in reports about the Jamaican lottery scam, in which scammers contact consumers and tell them they have won a large sum of money. Scammers typically target senior citizens and have previously targeted Milwaukee residents on Social Security. The scammers often call, but may also send unsolicited mail or email.
"The sheriff's office is advising the use of extreme caution if contacted by suspicious parties," the office said in a news release Tuesday.
"Often times the suspects will indicate that the money has been won in an international lottery and in order to receive the money, a tax bill must first be satisfied," the release said. "The suspects will then provide an address that is located out of state and instruct the victim to send large denominations of money to that address via cash or check. It is common for the suspects to request victims to wire monies to out of state locations in order to maintain a certain level of anonymity."
If a victim sends money, the scammers will continue to contact them to try to get more money. Scammers sometimes pressure and threaten victims to scare them into sending more money.
Police often have a difficult time tracing the transactions back to the suspects.
"The addresses provided are often times vacant or non-existent and the identities are generally discovered to be stolen or falsified," the sheriff's office said.
Federal authorities are currently in the final stages of prosecuting a 28-year-old Jamaican man, O'Brain Junior Lynch, who allegedly scammed at least $35,000 from more than 50 people, including a Glendale man. Lynch is scheduled for sentences within the next couple of months.
You can read more about Lynch, how the scammers behind the Jamaican lottery scam get people's phone numbers and how they operate in our June story. It also features a list of useful tips to avoid becoming a victim.
Racine residents who believe they're a victim of lottery scammers can report it to the Racine County Communications Center at (262) 886-2300. Note: This number is only for Racine residents.
Consumers in general should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. That can also be done by phone. Tips on how to file a complaint with those agencies are at the bottom of this story.
For more scam alerts, consumer news, viral consumer stories and tips, follow the Public Investigator on Twitter @GitteLaasbyMJS or get the news to your Facebook news feed by liking her page.
- 70 Wisconsin scam victims get refunds for Rachel's 'Cardholder Services' robocalls
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- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield credit monitoring sign-up instructions coming Friday
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- McDonald's to offer free food for customers who "Pay with Lovin'" starting Monday
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- Wisconsin gas stations targeted in phone scam involving Green Dot cards
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- Park 'N Fly data breach likely affects few Milwaukee airport parking customers
- Park 'N Fly airport parking confirms data breach; company affiliated with two lots at General Mitchell airport in Milwaukee
Do you have an issue with government or a local business or a story idea for Public Investigator? Contact us:
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- Phone: (414) 224-2318
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Recent recalls and product safety news from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Following an Additional Child Fatality, IKEA Recalls 29 Million MALM and Other Models of Chests and Dressers Due to Serious Tip-Over Hazard; Consumers Urged to Anchor Chests and Dressers or Return for Refund
- October Mountain Products Recalls Hanging Bow Scales Due to Impact and Laceration Hazards
- HP Recalls Batteries for HP and Compaq Notebook Computers Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
Food and Drug Alerts
Recalls and safety alerts from the Food and Drug Administration and Dept. of Agriculture.
- IKEA N.A. Services, LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk, Almond, Hazelnut in the CHOKLAD MORK and CHOKLAD MORK 70% Dark Chocolate Bars, Net Wt. 3.5 oz.
- Ghiringhelli Specialty Foods, Inc. Recalls Poultry Products Due To Mislabeling and Undeclared Allergens
- U.S. Cado Holdings, Inc. Recalls Imported Siluriformes Fish Products Distributed Without Meeting FSIS Requirements


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SolarWindow teams up with machinery maker to enable commercial production
SolarWindow Technologies Inc (OTCMKTS:WNDW), the US company developing transparent electricity-generating windows, on Tuesday said it has entered into a partnership with Dallas-based coating equipment manufacturer nTact as a step towards large-scale production.
This is the latest alliance for SolarWindow on the road to commercial production. The company in the summer of 2017 teamed up with Triview Glass Industries, an architectural and specialty glass manufacturer, which can apply SolarWindow's coatings to windows. The company then formed alliance with chemicals developer Raynergy Tek to ensure supply of raw materials for its coatings.
SolarWindow will work with its latest partner, nTact, to design, prototype, test and manufacture machinery and equipment needed for coating glass and flexible materials with its transparent electricity-generating coatings. The aim is to use the machinery for a high-volume SolarWindow production line at the Triview plant.
"Our mandate is to bring SolarWindow™ electricity-generating products to the $100 billion global skyscraper and commercial buildings market," commented SolarWindow president and chief executive John Conklin.


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08 July 2021
Russians take to non-alcoholic beer
Russia | AB-InBev Efes, the Russia-based unit of AB-InBev, expects double-digit growth in its non-alcoholic beer sales in the next few years, Reuters reported on 16 June 2021.
From 2001 up to 2016, the non-alcoholic beer category was hardly more than 0.5 percent of the total market. Despite the recent surge, non-alcoholic beer still accounts for just over 2 percent, much lower than 11 percent in Spain or 8 percent in Germany.
In 2020, Russia’s per capita consumption of beer was 47 litres, which is a far cry from what it was in 2010, when beer production was more than 90 million hl and the average Russian drank 68 litres.
Although the pandemic affected on-premise beer sales, the overall beer market rose 4 percent, according to AB-InBev Efes. This was for two reasons: the on-premise’s share of beer sales is smaller in Russia than elsewhere in Europe. And two, many Russians could not holiday abroad, which benefited domestic beer sales.
Despite the rise in consumption, the average price per litre beer remained at approximately USD 1.29, reports say.
The country’s Big Brewers expect that non-alcoholic beer will continue to rise in popularity, as it becomes a category in its own right. The usual explanation for this trend runs that Russians have become more health conscious. That may be the case. In the post-soviet era, the life expectancy for men (at birth) had dropped to 57 years (1994). It has since risen to 68 years (2018).
However, insiders suspect that the general acceptance of drunkenness is now a thing of the past. In fact, it seems quite acceptable now to grab a non-alcoholic beer in the company of staunch beer drinkers without running the risk of being called wimpy. Besides, the beers taste better than they did years ago.
AB-InBev Efes, Baltika/Carlsberg and Heineken are Russia’s largest beer market players, but the growing number of smaller brewers has cut their combined market share to 67.5 percent in 2020 from 81.7 percent in 2012, according to NielsenIQ. Following the merger of AB-InBev’s and Efes’ domestic units in 2017, AB-InBev Efes has dethroned Carlsberg’s Baltika as top beer supplier.


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Last year, Hewlett-Packard decided to unify the design of every thin and light laptop it sold, applying the same basic curves across every keyboard, touchpad, hinge, lid, and frame. This year, it's not just thin-and-light laptops getting the treatment: according to company representatives, CEO Meg Whitman has now mandated a unified design language across HP's entire portfolio of consumer machines. "She took a look at our portfolio and said, ''I don't know what's HP.'" Now, recessed hinges, revamped touchpads, and slim wedge designs — or at least the illusion of a slim wedge design — will be more or less standard across the company's lineup.
Don't call it a netbook
Of course, that means it's harder than ever for any individual HP computer to stand out, but two manage it anyhow. First, the $399 HP Pavilion TouchSmart 11 uses AMD's new low-power Temash processors to power a classy little 11.6-inch touchscreen machine, which still manages to house a full keyboard, a two-button touchpad, and a full array of ports, including three USB sockets, an HDMI port, VGA, Ethernet, and a SD card slot into its fairly minuscule frame. HP expects it to ship on June 26th.
Second and perhaps more exciting is the HP Envy 14 TouchSmart Ultrabook (pictured first in the gallery above) which appears to be trying to ape the MacBook Pro with Retina Display. It starts at $699 with a low-res 14-inch, 1366 x 768 screen, mind you, but it can be optionally upgraded to 1600 x 900, or an unprecedented 3200 x 1800 resolution screen which should be available sometime later this summer. Edge-to-edge glass touchscreens come standard on the Envy 14 TouchSmart, and its bigger brother the HP Envy 15 TouchSmart Notebook as well.
Why "notebook" instead of "ultrabook"? The 15-inch model has a cheaper $529 starting price because it comes with AMD processors and no solid state storage by default. They both have fingerprint readers though, a feature that's now going to be standard across all of HP's Envy laptops. The Envy 14 TouchSmart is also coming June 26th, while the 15-inch model is due June 5th as of now.
If you're looking for a little more power under the hood, HP will also ship heftier Envy 15 and Envy 17 laptops without the "TouchSmart" or "Ultrabook" monikers, trading the touchscreen for faster processors, more storage, more speakers, and discrete Nvidia graphics options. We don't have all the details yet, but the Envy 17 will start at $699 on June 5th.


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Majestic broadcasts first ever TV ads
Wine retailer Majestic is running its first ever TV advertisements in the run-up to Christmas as it looks to increase brand awareness among supermarket wine shoppers.
The adverts are being shown for four weeks on ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 in the London TV area, mainly during breaks in food programmes. They are being supported by a range of national press advertisements in food magazines and Sunday supplements.
Chief executive Steve Lewis told Offlicense News: "This is not a campaign, it is just a trial to see if we can improve brand awareness of Majestic among supermarket shoppers.
"We do a lot of research into our existing customers, but for the first time last January we did a big research project into wine consumers who spend at least £5 per bottle of wine but who are not customers of Majestic. There are a large number of people who look and sound like our consumers but who don’t yet shop with Majestic."
Earlier this month, Majestic reported a 20% rise in half year pre-tax profit to £8.8 million.
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TORONTO and NEW YORK, /PRNewswire/ — The Hot Plate, Tag’s Food and Beverage Center of Excellence for brands and agencies, has released its 2024 Flavor & Trends Forecast. The report shares flavorful highlights of the latest ingredients, cooking techniques, and culinary ideas predicted to drive innovation in the food and beverage industry in North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
Here’s a taste of the top trends that made the highly craved forecast for 2024:
- Supreme Flake: The croissant, known for its traditional layers and flaky texture, has become a canvas for artistic reinterpretation with its multiple flakey layers and decadent fillings.
- Wild Not Mild: Beyond its tantalizing heat, spicy foods offer a sensory adventure, awakening taste buds and triggering endorphin rushes, providing a thrilling dining experience.
- Balkan Cuisine: The fusion of Mediterranean, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern influences create a sensational medley of tastes, attracting food enthusiasts who seek adventure.
“Because the culinary world is becoming more global and is ever evolving, understanding future palate preferences is pivotal for F&B brands to stay ahead of the curve,” shares Andrea Flanders, Tag Canada Chief Client Officer. She continues, “Our 2024 Flavor & Trends Forecast is a valuable resource, brimming with insights, data, and innovative trends that will help revolutionize the culinary, experiential landscape in 2024.”
This year’s forecast also features four ‘petits fours’ or bite-size trends that deserve attention, such as Climatarian Diet and Generative AI, which made the list. Each of the four trends has great potential to affect the future of food; for example, AI is already revolutionizing the food industry with AI-developed recipes and flavor profiles.
“This is hands-down one of my favorite thought leadership initiatives our team develops each year,” adds Olivia McCormack, Vice-President, Business Development. “Andrea and I both have had the pleasure of seeing them in action for nearly a decade now, and their culinary expertise, creativity and quality is truly unmatched.” Flanders chimes in, “Of course, I am a little biased, but there’s good reason why over 900 food and beverage brands and agencies choose to partner with us for their content marketing. My best word of advice? If you plan to visit our Toronto office and test kitchen, come hungry!”
SOURCE Tag Worldwide (USA) Inc


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- Endeavour Group owns 353 hotels with 12,000-plus poker machines. The hotels division generated sales of $480m, up 18.5 per cent in the March quarter.
- CEO Steve Donohue says more people are driving to the group’s 264 Dan Murphy’s outlets to buy wine, beer and spirits in person, rather than online.
- Sales at the retail division, which also includes 1437 BWS stores, were up 1.2 per cent to $2.35 billion in the March quarter compared with a year ago.
- Dan Murphy’s has 5.1 million people in the My Dan’s loyalty program and is increasingly using the Netflix approach of making personalised recommendations based on user patterns.
The boss of Endeavour Group says people are flocking to the group’s 353 pubs, with food sales particularly robust as a yearning to socialise after the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily outweighs cost-of-living pressures.
Steve Donohue said the company is closely watching for any slowdown and it is too hard to predict what will happen in the next few months, although it will be able to adapt quickly if there is a downturn. “We’re looking at this on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis,” he said.
Sales for the three months ended April 2 were up 18.5 per cent at the hotels business to $480 million, compared with the same time a year earlier, when Australians were still cautious about COVID-19. The solid trends in pubs had continued in the past few weeks, although growth rates had tapered off compared with the booming January holiday period.
Endeavour Group also operates 264 Dan Murphy’s outlets and 1437 BWS stores in its retail division, which generated a 1.2 per cent rise in sales to $2.35 billion for the three months. Mr Donohue said more customers were driving to bricks and mortar liquor stores to make purchases rather than buying online, to ensure they secured the best bargains.
In the pubs division, a desire to socialise in groups was a big driver, along with having sit-down meals that offered value for money. “We’re certainly seeing more people visiting pubs,” he said.
“It is more focused on the food occasion rather than the drinks occasion.”
The 353 hotels house more than 12,000 poker machines. Live music was also a crowd puller, with 38,000 patrons attending 100 events in the March quarter.
Endeavour shares were down 2.8 per cent in early afternoon trading on the ASX to $6.58.
Mr Donohue said there had been a step-up across the industry in liquor retail promotions and discounts, particularly online. He said there had been a pullback in areas such as the Jimmy Brings on-demand service for people who wanted liquor orders filled quickly but at a higher cost.
“They are the most expensive way to buy something, and they are becoming less popular,” he said.
More people were also driving to Dan Murphy’s outlets to do their drinks shopping in person so they obtained the best price on offer.
There had been no substantial trading down by consumers yet as cost-of-living pressures rose, but spending patterns were being very closely monitored.
“We are watching very closely the way consumers are behaving,” Mr Donohue said.
He said there had been a shift away from high-end French champagne subject to substantial price rises of between 10 to 15 per cent, and many customers were substituting Australian sparkling. The buoyant growth rates in pre-mixed spirits were coming off a little. “They had really been motoring along”.
The Netflix effect
The company is also continuing to enhance the personalisation approach with its Dan Murphy’s loyalty program known as My Dan’s. There are now 5.1 million active members compared with 4.4 million a year ago.
Mr Donohue said the group was moving further towards the approach used by television streaming service Netflix, with customers given recommendations based on their buying patterns.
In the hotels business, gaming had returned to its pre-pandemic share of turnover, with low single-digit growth in the March quarter, he said.
Analysts say the NSW state election win by Labor’s Chris Minns was a plus for the company. His poker machine policies were viewed as much softer than those put forward by ex-premier Dominic Perrottet, who wanted all poker machines in the state to be cashless by 2028, allowing consumers to set hard limits on their gaming cards.
Labor agreed only to a cashless gaming trial and cash input limits of $500 per machine for all new poker machines from July.
The company listed on the ASX in July 2021 after being split from supermarket giant Woolworths. Woolworths kept a 14.6 per cent stake but in mid-December offloaded $636 million in shares, trimming its holding to 9.1 per cent.
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Holiday in Lights is Moving to Warren County's Armco Park
WARREN COUNTY, OH -- Holiday In Lights show and 5k will now be hosted by Armco Park in Warren County. Located on St. Rt. 741 between Monroe and Lebanon, Armco Park offers 311 acres of rolling hills with beautiful, wooded paths.
"This is a perfect location to showcase the 31 year time-honored tradition of Holiday in Lights," states the Holiday in Lights Facebook page.
The Allen Company, which produces the holiday show, wants their loyal fans to know that they will be working hard to ensure the best possible event.
Warren County Park Director Larry Easterly explained that the show is a collaboration between the Warren County Park District and the Holiday in Lights group.
"We have the park and they have the lights... that they put up," Easterly said, adding that he was excited about their move from Sharon Woods to Armco Park.
Holiday in Lights is an outdoor light display that is viewed by guests from the comfort of their own vehicle. Built with over 1 million lights and over 250 light displays, it has grown into a Cincinnati holiday family tradition for many years.
The holiday themed light show will be built over a mile of wooded roadway and will showcase everything from Santa Claus and his elves to every animal on the ark.
Holiday in Lights 2022 runs November 18th to December 30th, select hours:
- November 18 (Friday) — 5:30pm-10pm
- November 19 (Saturday) — After the 5K -10pm
- November 20 (Sunday) — 6pm-9pm
- November 21 through the 24 (Monday through Thursday) — Closed
- November 25 & 26 (Friday and Saturday) —5:30pm - 10pm
- Starting on November 27th (Sunday) Open on Sundays, Wednesdays & Thursdays — 6pm-9pm
Then, the weeks of December 19th and December 26th Holiday in Lights is opened every evening...
- Sunday - Thursday 6:00pm-9:00pm
- Friday - Saturday 5:30pm-10:00pm
For additional information visit www.holidayinlights.com or call at513-769-0393.


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Fashion designer and singer Mowalola Ogunlesi after drawing massive online fire Monday decided to remove a Saudi Arabian flag miniskirt from the latest lineup of her titular brand — worn recently by a model at the brand's SS24 runway presentation sparking outrage.
People on social media denounced the design of the skirt, which features the Islamic declaration of faith, as it is part of Saudi Arabia's flag, as disrespectful, reported Middle East Eye.
The skirt, seemingly fashioned out of the Holy Kingdom's flag, has inscribed on it Kalma Tayyaba in Arabic, which translates: "There is no God but Allah [and] Muhammad is the messenger of Allah".
Other flags were also shown on miniskirts worn by models walking down the catwalk, but many said the Saudi flag shouldn't have been displayed because of the religious calligraphy it bears.
"The whole situation around that miniskirt is not about defending that god awful country... Saudi Arabia, but a scripture that is sacred to billions of people. How hard is that to understand?" one social media user posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Many others shared the sentiment online.
"I am in no way shape or form religious, but this is extremely disrespectful. Knowing that the Saudi flag says the word Allah on it and they're using it as a provocative miniskirt shows how shameless the fashion industry has become in regards to religions of all kinds," another social media user said.
Others questioned the designer's motives as well, urging her to take the skirt out of her collection.
The designer originally made an effort to justify her decision, but the criticism persisted.
"There's a reason why Saudi doesn't brandish its flag around the country. It contains the Shahadah [Islamic profession of faith]. Saudi has a whole set of laws just for the flag. It must be printed on both sides and folded, cleaned and destroyed all in a specific way. To put it on a skirt is disrespectful," one social media user wrote in response.
Later, in a series of posts posted on X on Saturday, the designer apologised for the skirts seen on the runway and pledged to take the item out of the collection.
"One of my key inspirations for SS24 was to use the national flags of different countries. After the show, I found that one of these flags - Saudi Arabian - features sacred words, and its use has caused great offence. Now that I've been educated on this topic, I sincerely apologise," she wrote.
She continued: "I'll ensure this design is removed from the collection. I deeply regret any hurt or offense my oversight may have caused. Thank you for holding me accountable, and I appreciate your understanding as I learn from this experience."
Nigerian-born Mowalola Ogunlesi, who resides in London, is the company's designer.
The singer-turned-designer is renowned for incorporating a broad variety of textures and materials into her creations, which are used to produce unconventional appearances influenced by young culture.
Over 300,000 people follow Ogunlesi on Instagram, where she posted pictures of the skirt on her stories.
An Eritrean-Australian Instagram model called out a fashion brand for the "disgraceful display" of religious writings on its clothing at the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival earlier this year, and the festival later apologised.
Mona Khalifa, a model and influencer from Melbourne who attended the event, took to social media to criticise the clothing line Not A Man's Dream over a sheer dress that had the Arabic phrase "God walks with me" printed on it.
This is not the first time a company has drawn criticism for having religious material on its products.
In her snub to Elon Musk, AOC highlighted her achievements since taking office in 2019
Britain's Sycamore tree was notable not only for being next to the ancient wall but also for its cinematic setting
As fall began, the Obama women adopted a new vivid clothing style
Rotterdam shooting suspect was arrested after police said on social media that shots had been fired at the Rotterdam...
CCTV footage shows a man shooing the minor girl rape victim away in Ujjain, India
At least 114 died, 150 suffered burns, smoke inhalation and crush wounds in Iraq's wedding fire


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The local newspaper industry has called for the government to provide a financial rescue package to prevent more titles from going bust, as the pandemic has slowed its long-declining flow of revenue to a trickle.
In the past month, over 50 titles such as the Milton Keynes Citizen and Brighton & Hove Independent have stopped appearing in print, with trade group the News Media Association warning that more will follow suit unless the industry receives further support.
“Advertising revenues, already under challenge from the tech giants, have plummeted as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, and steps need to be taken urgently to prevent more local titles going out of business,” said the NMA’s deputy chief executive Lynne Anderson.
Britain’s newspaper industry is facing an unprecedented crisis with national newspaper sales falling by over a fifth between the middle and end of March, according to data from distributor Smiths News previously reported by the Financial Times.
The industry has, among other things, asked for the business rate holiday, announced as part of chancellor Rishi Sunak’s £350bn rescue package in mid March, to be extended to news publishers and a planned removal of value added tax on digital publications to be moved forward.
The NMA told the government in a letter sent late last month that publishers could not understand why some businesses such as tanning shops and estate agents were granted a rates holiday, while local newspapers were not.
It has asked for a “significant” amount to be spent on newspaper advertising, which the government agreed to, announcing a public information campaign on the Covid-19 pandemic two weeks ago.
The Financial Times is making key coronavirus coverage free to read to help everyone stay informed. Find the latest here.
The “historic” collaboration — which covers local and national titles — will be worth roughly £35m to the industry, according to Enders Analysis, the media research firm, which has estimated that newspapers will see advertising revenues more than halve year-on-year.
Simon Bax, executive chairman of the Norwich-based publisher Archant, called the government’s advertising campaign “helpful” but said it should not be viewed as a subsidy, but as a service for the government trying to reach local communities.
He also argued the money, out of which roughly £18m will be spent with local publishers, would not be enough to tackle the unprecedented fall in circulation and advertising revenue, which has prompted many groups to furlough staff and cut costs.
“I think you’ll start seeing companies that own newspapers going out of business before the end of the summer,” Mr Bax added.
With the looming recession likely to hit advertising budgets, Enders estimates that the newspaper market is set to lose “at least” £550m.
Regional titles, once reliant on advertising from local businesses, have been struggling to compete with websites that post classified ads — as well as with Facebook and Google, which dominate targeted digital advertising. Between 2005 and 2018, the UK lost 245 local news outlets, according to the Press Gazette, the media trade magazine.
A survey carried out by the NMA, showed that two-thirds of local publishers would have to close titles in less than four months without further support from the government. Nearly half said they would have to cut jobs within the next four weeks.
Government officials told the Financial Times there are “very real concerns” for the current state and future survival of local papers as a consequence of the pandemic.
“There’s been a lot of engagement with the sector and ministers are doing what they can,” said one. Another added that local papers are “in a very bad place”.
As well as siphoning off government money for advertising, there has been a concerted effort to give local papers questions at the daily Downing Street press conference in order to remind the public of their importance.


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Jordan Brand is Preparing the Air Jordan 1 Reimagined “Chicago”
According to reports, Jordan Brand is set to celebrate how it started with a release celebrating the Air Jordan 1 “ Chicago.” The Air Jordan 1 Reimagined “ Chicago” is a streamlined take on the classic set to arrive latterly this time.
Reportedly centered around a quaint aesthetic, the shoe will feature the iconic “White/ Varsity Red/ Black” colorway. The shoe itself will also express a figure closer to the model released back in 1985 with a bettered toebox design.
Back in 1985, Michael Jordan steered in Jordan Brand with the Air Jordan 1 in a “ banned” red and black colorway. After paying forfeitures due to an NBA player gear policy around bright and bold colors, the league approved the “Chicago” colorway created by MJ and Jordan Brand. Since being worn on the court, the shoe has come an integral part of sneaker culture as we know it the moment.
A “Reimagined” #Chicago Air Jordan 1 is expected to release Holiday 2022! 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/obwfb6aBc2— zSneakerHeadz (@zSneakerHeadz) March 3, 2022
For Further Updates
Hype Ryno is set to Re-define Indian Sneaker Market as we know it
At a time when the sneaker game is rapidly gaining popularity, and more and more resellers and collectors are becoming a part of this ecosystem, The lack of a proper Authentication system and resale forums have caused inconvenience to a lot of enthusiasts; but not…
Upcoming Yeezy Releases For 2022
As we step into 2022, the past year hasn’t exactly been a cakewalk. The virus continues its presence with habitual lockdowns and strict norms all over the country. Despite this, the sneaker culture slowly but surely experienced a good number of new collaborations, album releases,…


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|By PR Newswire||
|September 20, 2012 04:04 AM EDT||
LONDON, September 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
comparethemarket.com, one of the UK's leading price comparison websites, has announced Argos Pet Insurance as the latest addition to its pet insurer panel.
Having teamed up with Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance, one of the largest and most experienced insurers in the UK*, Argos now provides insurance for over 150,000 pets across the country. It offers Silver, Gold or Platinum packages for up to £7000 worth of vet fee cover, ensuring that there's the right level of cover to suit every budget and need.
Argos has also recently launched vetfone, a Freephone 24 hour hotline manned by qualified veterinary nurses, to give pet owners that added peace of mind.
Andrew Stocks, Director at comparethemarket.com said: "We're pleased to be able to introduce our customers to a great range of deals from Argos Pet Insurance. With even more quotes to choose from, we're sure that visitors to comparethemarket.com will be able to find the perfect pet insurance to suit their needs."
Specialising in more than just pet insurance, comparethemarket.com provides customers with an easy way to find the right deal on a wide range of insurance and financial products including car insurance, home insurance, van insurance, bike insurance, life insurance and credit cards. It also offers comparisons for a range of household utilities including electricity, gas, phone, broadband and digital TV.
- comparethemarket.com was launched in 2006 and has grown rapidly over the past six years to become one of the UK's leading price comparison websites.
- comparethemarket.com provides customers with an easy way to make the right choice for them on a wide range of products including motor, home, life, travel and pet insurance as well as utilities and money products such as, credit cards and loans.
- comparethemarket.com actively selects its brand partners, working with the best and most trusted organisations to ensure quality service to consumers.
comparethemarket.com is a trading name of BISL Limited. BISL Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Registered Address: Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6YS. Registered in England number 3231094.
The 4th International DevOps Summit, co-located with16th International Cloud Expo – being held June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY – announces that its Call for Papers is now open. Born out of proven success in agile development, cloud computing, and process automation, DevOps is a macro trend you cannot afford to miss. From showcase success stories from early adopters and ...
Oct. 31, 2014 06:15 PM EDT Reads: 2,143
SYS-CON Events announced today that TMCnet has been named “Media Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 15th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) is the world's leading business to business and integrated marketing media company, servicing niche markets within the communications and t...
Oct. 31, 2014 06:15 PM EDT Reads: 815
As cloud gives an opportunity to businesses to buy services externally - how is cloud impacting your customers? In his General Session at 15th Cloud Expo, Fabio Gori, Director of Worldwide Cloud Marketing at Cisco, will provide answers to big questions: Do you see hybrid cloud as where the world is going? What benefits does it bring? And how does Cisco connect all of these clouds? He will also te...
Oct. 31, 2014 06:15 PM EDT Reads: 815
Can we look to the paradigm of cloud computing from a completely different perspective? In his General Session at 15th Cloud Expo, Gundars Kulups, Sales Director at DEAC, will discuss what we can learn from our dining habits when choosing a cloud solution. Gundars Kulups is Sales Director at DEAC, full service data center operator. An IT expert, he specializes in European countries and has worke...
Oct. 31, 2014 06:15 PM EDT Reads: 684
We live in a time when seconds – even milliseconds – can have a dramatic economic impact on your company’s future. With technology being the primary conduit for consumer interaction, the user experience is at center stage. User experience will be a deciding factor in separating the future winners from the losers. By building more speed and agility into the application delivery process, DevOps prom...
Oct. 31, 2014 06:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,388
SYS-CON Events announced today that AgilePoint, the leading provider of Microsoft-centric Business Process Management software, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 2nd International @ThingsExpo which will take place on November 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. AgilePoint is the leading provider of Microsoft-based Business Process Management (BPM) software products, has 1,...
Oct. 31, 2014 05:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,110
SYS-CON Events announced today that Parasoft will exhibit at SYS-CON's 15th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. For 27 years, Parasoft has researched and developed software solutions that help organizations deliver defect-free software efficiently. By integrating Development Testing, API/cloud/SOA/composi...
Oct. 31, 2014 05:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,007
The Internet of Things (IoT) promises to evolve the way the world does business; however, understanding how to apply it to your company can be a mystery. Most people struggle with understanding the potential business uses or tend to get caught up in the technology, resulting in solutions that fail to meet even minimum business goals. In his session at Internet of @ThingsExpo, Jesse Shiah, CEO / ...
Oct. 31, 2014 04:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,576
SYS-CON Events announced today that Utimaco will exhibit at SYS-CON's 15th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on November 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Utimaco is a leading manufacturer of hardware based security solutions that provide the root of trust to keep cryptographic keys safe, secure critical digital infrastructures and protect high val...
Oct. 31, 2014 03:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,937
One of the biggest challenges when developing connected devices is identifying user value and delivering it through successful user experiences. In his session at Internet of @ThingsExpo, Mike Kuniavsky, Principal Scientist, Innovation Services at PARC, will describe an IoT-specific approach to user experience design that combines approaches from interaction design, industrial design and service...
Oct. 31, 2014 02:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,802


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Whether we are locals, tourists, residents, part-time residents, visitors, vacation home owners, business owners, future visitors, etc, this concerns all of us and I believe everyone’s voice is important because Exuma ultimately belongs to the earth, to all of us and the future generations. Exuma, as it is now, is beloved by so many people. Everyone who’s ever visited stays impressed for life. The vast majority agree that Exuma is absolutely unique in the world for its unparalleled natural beauty and authentic culture. Astronaut Scott Kelly named Exuma “the most beautiful place from space”.
There are several informative websites to help us understand and learn from others’ mistakes why cruise ships are not good for Exuma, why many known cruise destinations are now fighting to get rid of them, why irreversible changes will always come with cruise ships. Please kindly share this with everyone who may care to know, so that everyone becomes aware of what is really at stake and can form an informed opinion on this matter.
The very few Exuma businesses that may benefit financially from this also need to reconsider very seriously. They may gain a few dollars but lose many more, together with the one true unique thing that Exuma owns — natural resources and culture — and that will be lost for the future generations as well. At a time when tourism is finally returning to The Bahamas, loyal Exuma tourists are already booking elsewhere to avoid the cruise ships they heard about and all over the internet tourists are saddened and angered by this news. The Exuma allure and brand that took years to build and was flourishing before the pandemic will be lost because Exuma as we know it will be no more.
Here is a link to the petition on change.org: www.change.org/p/to-minnis-hubert-0203fc0d-8048-4ce4-b1e8-1f288d9a6e92. We owe it to Exuma to stop Crystal Cruises and other cruise lines from making Exuma a permanent stop on their cruise ships itineraries because while places like the Cayman Islands and Cozumel are fighting them off, the cruise lines are looking for new stops; that’s what Exuma will be to them — a stop to make another dollar. More cruise ships will follow, then the dredging, the docks, the environmental destruction, the loss of current tourism, culture and businesses and so on, as you can see described on many websites.
This is the time to stand together, to know that everyone has a voice, that taking a stance matters and to stop them before it will be too late. Harbour Island and Spanish Wells succeeded; so can Exuma.
- To have your letter to the editor published, email email@example.com. Please note letters should be under 500 words and refrain from using profanity, slurs or otherwise offensive language.


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“Sustainability is like teenage sex. Everybody says they’re doing it, very few people actually are doing it. Those that are doing it are doing it badly.”
That is according Andrew Maynard, an architect whose work leans towards creating ethical, social sustainable and cost effective housing and who might just have a point. While he was referring to so-called ‘green’ additions or extensions to dwellings and other buildings, the sentiment can be applied to most sustainable efforts, including fashion.
The rise in conscious and ethical brands, recycling initiatives and well-meaning individuals hasn’t come from nowhere, but is most likely a reaction to this global mess we’ve got ourselves into. An alarming increase in the temperatures of the planet and its oceans, a rise in sea levels and the now not-so-isolated occurrences of extreme weather events are a very real and tangible manifestation of this thing we used to joke about when someone used too much hairspray in the 90s: global warming.
In a year when more than a million school children skipped school in a strike against non-action from governments over climate change, it’s not hard to see why sustainability is fast gaining momentum as the only alternative. It is no longer a buzzword but a genuine solution to a catastrophic problem, yet many of us are still missing the mark.
With so much information out there it can be overwhelming to know where to start when it comes to sustainability. Jeans, tote bags and even cotton t-shirts have made headlines in alternative and mainstream media for the damage they do to the environment and you could quite easily be led to think that being perfectly sustainable might mean chucking these out and starting again.
But this is definitely not the case. If being naked is the number one most sustainable option then the second must be not creating textile waste products. This means not buying new, recycling everything you can, reusing and repairing and loving what you already have.
Sustainable can be a scary word if you aren’t equipped with the knowledge needed to get it right, but if there’s one message that should be reinforced when it comes to loving fashion in an environmentally friendly way then it is this: Loved clothes last.


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Volvo is shedding more light on its new Advanced Air Cleaner technology that’s been introduced into all 60- and 90-series models in their range.
Described as the “world-first premium air-quality technology in cars”, Volvo’s new Advanced Air Cleaner combines a synthetic fiber-based filter, ionization, and a sensor that measures PM 2.5 levels inside the cabin.
The amount of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in the air is the widely used indicator for air quality, with many urban areas around the globe suffering from PM 2.5 values that exceed the recommended levels by the World Health Organisation.
Volvo’s new air quality system cleans the air inside the cabin, keeping up to 95 percent of all PM 2.5 particles outside the vehicle and thus limiting the health effects that are associated with air pollution and fine particulates.
Owners of Volvo models fitted with the system can also schedule an extra cleaning of the cabin air ahead of their journey via the company’s Volvo On Call smartphone application.
“With our Advanced Air Cleaner technology, you can rest assured that the air you breathe inside your Volvo is cleaner and healthier,” said Anders Löfvendahl, Senior Technical Expert on Cabin Air Quality at Volvo Cars. “We believe that clean air is good for you, both from a health and from a safety perspective, and we will continue to push the envelope in this area.”
In addition, Volvo says that they have established strict sourcing requirements for suppliers in order to minimize the generation and emission of odors from parts and materials used inside their cars. The carmaker has even a special team of odor assessors, internally known as “The Noses”, who test components individually as well as on a complete car level for unwanted odor emissions.


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Wed, Aug. 12, 2:59 PM
- Lumber Liquidators (NYSE:LL) is up 6.0% on above-average volume as the stock makes a small bounce off the 52-week low set last week.
- There's been some talk that the well-documented bear case on LL has run its course and investors should cover their short.
- Previously: Lumber Liquidators knocked down by weak results (Aug. 05 2015)
Wed, Aug. 5, 12:48 PM
Wed, Aug. 5, 9:19 AM
- Gainers: FNJN +60%. BIOC +13%. FSLR +11%. KATE +9%. Z +9%. HRB +8%. OAS +8%. TSEM +8%. PCLN +7%. SLTD +7%. MSI +6%. ATVI +6%. SUPN +6%. LC +6%. CTSH +6%. BBL +6%. SDRL +5%.
- Losers: SALE -33%. OHGI -28%. LL -24%. BOOT -23%. ETSY -20%. TRMB -13%. GLUU -10%. RSO -10%. DIS -9%. NYMT -7%. MEMP -7%. GNW -7%. PWR -7%. CERN -6%. PZZA -6%.
Wed, Aug. 5, 8:24 AM
- Lumber Liquidators (NYSE:LL) is lower in early trading after reporting a 10% drop in comparable-store sales in Q2.
- The company reported a 7.6% decline in number of customers billed and a 2.4% drop in average sale total.
- Promotional pricing during the quarter led to a plunge in LL's gross margin rate to 25.1% from 40.4%.
- Guidance: The company expects to open 20 to 25 new stores in the expanded format. No outlook for sales or EPS is doled out by management.
- Previously: Lumber Liquidators misses by $0.81, misses on revenue
- LL -19.3% to $14.81.
Wed, Aug. 5, 6:02 AM
Tue, Aug. 4, 5:30 PM
- AMSC, ANSS, ARIA, ARQL, ATHM, ATRO, AVA, AVT, BLT, CEQP, CHK, CLDT, CLH, CMLP, CONE, CRK, CRME, CSTE, CSTM, CTSH, D, DAVE, DISCA, DISH, DNOW, DNR, EE, ENBL, FI, GDP, GTN, HCA, HFC, HSC, ICE, INXN, KATE, KELYA, KERX, LDOS, LG, LINC, LIOX, LL, LPLA, MEMP, MSI, MSO, MWE, PCLN, PWR, RDC, RL, SALE, SBGI, SCMP, SE, SNAK, SODA, SPAR, SPB, SUP, TMHC, TWX, USAC, VC, VLP, VOYA, VSI, WCG, WD, WEN, WIX
Mon, Jun. 15, 8:51 AM
- Lumber Liquidators (NYSE:LL) announces it promoted Marco Pescara to serve as its Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer.
- The move will combine the marketing and merchandising departments under Pescara's control.
- Chief Merchandising Officer William Schlegle has been let go to make way for Pescara.
- LL -1.77% premarket.
Fri, Jun. 12, 11:22 AM
- Shares of Lumber Liquidators (NYSE:LL) are up 6.65% on some vague market rumors that home improvement giant Home Depot is interested in acquiring the embattled flooring seller.
- Home Depot is trading in-line with market averages as investors ignore the speculation.
Mon, Jun. 8, 1:39 PM
- Lumber Liquidators (LL -4.3%) trades lower in reaction to questions being raised by the EPA on the company's do-it-yourself home testing method and some claims around formaldehyde contamination.
- The government agency is also pointing out that it doesn't have established standards on formaldehyde, although rules proposed in 2013 could be implemented this year.
- EPA statement on Lumber Liquidators
Wed, Jun. 3, 9:37 AM
Mon, Jun. 1, 10:54 AM
- Lumber Liquidators (LL +1.1%) discloses it relabeled some flooring products because a supplier placed California Air Resources Board compliance numbers on the items even though they weren't applicable.
- "This labeling issue does not impact the CARB Phase II emissions compliance for these products, " states the company.
- Question over the relabeled products cropped up last week.
- SEC Form 8-K
Thu, May 21, 9:16 AM
Thu, May 21, 8:37 AM
Tue, May 19, 11:09 AM| Tue, May 19, 11:09 AM | 2 Comments
Tue, May 12, 8:12 AM
- Lumber Liquidators (NYSE:LL) is lower in early trading after reports emerge indicating insurance companies are refusing to defend the company in class-action lawsuits.
- The insurers are leaning on some of the fine print in the policies to avoid jumping into the cases.
- Lumber Liquidators has filed breach of contract lawsuits against several of the insurance companies in response.
- LL -2.39% premarket to $27.39.
Thu, May 7, 9:23 AM
Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc is a specialty retailer of hardwood flooring in North America. It offers products including domestic hardwood species, engineered hardwood, laminate, vinyl plank, bamboo and cork.
Other News & PR


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Above: The Teslamotors.cn web page that Zhan Bao Sheng registered ahead of time.
Like many international companies entering into China, Tesla has failed to protect its branding and logo IP prior to its launch, you can read many more examples over at Chinalawblog.com where the excellent lawyers that run the blog pour over case after case of branding misery.
Chinese automotive media are reporting heavily on the fact that the Chinese name that spells out Tesla (Te Si La) has already been registered as early as 2006 and approved in 2009, the Chinese press have been informally using this name since then.
The entrepreneurial soul behind the Tesla name grab has already been outed by the Chinese media, Mr. Zhan Bao Sheng has apparently started his own Tesla long before the real Tesla’s musk got in on the action, except Mr. Zhan was largely attaching the Tesla logo to golf carts rather than actual electric sports sedans.
What does this mean for Tesla in China? It means that without the actual rights to the Te Si La name they cannot open their brand new store in Beijing. So what’s the alternative? They could go down the route of alternative names to avoid any clashes. Land Rover changed their name from ?? (Lu Hu) meaning ‘Continent Tiger’ to ?? meaning ‘Road Tiger’ as Geely had snapped up the former ahead of JLR’s official launch in China.
In the face of a relentless Chinese media, Mr. Zhan has taken to online channels such as Weibo (China’s Twitter alternative) to protest his innocence and his initial attempts to make EV’s, but that protesting soon turned into vitriol with him lashing out reporters who claimed he was only in it for the money.
The trademark case is still being disputed by the authorities despite Elon Musk reportedly offering Mr. Zhan more than 300,000USD for the name.
Mr. Zhan with his Tesla golf cart:


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In case you have missed the news earlier, Microsoft announced its decision to buyout the well-know gaming company Activision Blizzard. The deal costs close to $70 billion.
Of course, this is kind of a sudden dramatic announcement, especially when considering Microsoft is choosing to purchase a company that has fallen to controversy over the recent months. Activision Blizzard and CEO Bobby Kotick, have been put through the wringer in the headlines with various scandals.
Bobby Kotick will remain as Activision Blizzard’s CEO, but there are reports for plans for him to leave. According to Microsoft Gaming head Phil Spencer, Bobby Kotick will be reporting to him. “Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard, and he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the company’s culture and accelerate business growth,” Microsoft said in its announcement.
Naturally, everyone has something to say about the deal, and there are memes-a-plenty that are already circulating social media. You can check out some of them below:


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Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions and Roccheggiani target offshore marketCompany News // May 29, 2013
Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions (WTS) has signed an agreement with Roccheggiani of Italy, which will see the two companies combine their competence in supply of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. WTS and Roccheggiani will jointly market their products to the offshore market.
WTS believes the co-operation agreement will increase its level of service supply and reduce delivery times for customers. For Roccheggiani, the agreement increases exposure for its products to the offshore HVAC market.
Stephen Lawton, Sales Director, HVAC Offshore, Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions, said: “Maintaining a strong position in the HVAC market requires us to deliver better solutions and superior products and service, while being able to keep control of costs for our customers. Developing a closer co-operation between two strong players like WTS and Roccheggiani means we can combine our skills and experience to reach those common goals.”
The agreement was signed in April 2013 by WTS Managing Director, HVAC Offshore, Helle Hundseid and Roccheggiani Chief Executive Officer Marco Roccheggiani and will run for an initial period of three years.


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A deal to suspend tariffs on Scotch whisky products for five years between the UK and the USA has been welcomed by two local politicians.
Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron and Mid Kintyre & the Islands Councillor Alastair Redman welcomed the news, following a long running dispute between the USA and the EU over support for large civil aircraft which sparked the retaliatory tariffs that affected the Scotch whisky industry.
The UK Government’s International Trade Secretary Liz Truss struck a deal with her American counterparts to suspend tariffs on Scotch whisky products for five years, which has been welcomed by the wider industry.
Scottish Conservative MSP Donald Cameron said:
“This deal is an extremely positive development for the Scotch whisky industry, and I am delighted that the UK Government has delivered a good result on this important issue.
“The industry has lost some £600m over the last two years as a result of this damaging trade war, but I welcome that we can now look to the future, and continue to grow the Scotch whisky market in the USA.”
Islay-based councillor Alastair Redman said:
“Whisky production is critical to the economies of Islay and Jura, as well as the wider Scottish economy, so this is welcome news.
“The UK Government has been able to achieve something that the EU comprehensively failed to achieve, and I look forward to the UK building a positive future trading relationship with the USA following this deal.”


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- Is TikTok banned in Germany?
- What does banning TikTok mean?
- Which country banned TikTok first?
- Why is Tik Tok bad?
- Is TikTok banned in America?
- How are they banning TikTok?
- Are they getting rid of TikTok?
- Why did the US ban TikTok?
- Why Tik Tok is dangerous?
- What would happen if TikTok got banned?
- Can Trump actually ban TikTok?
Is TikTok banned in Germany?
A German government official said the country has seen no signs that the app poses a security risk and has no plans to ban it..
What does banning TikTok mean?
They prohibit companies like Apple and Google from allowing TikTok to be downloaded from their app stores onto people’s devices. … This means that anyone who does not have the app downloaded by Sunday will not be able to get it come Monday.
Which country banned TikTok first?
Along with India, the U.S. is among the first countries to impose an outright ban on TikTok, but there are other countries around the world considering similar measures. Japan is also thinking about imposing a ban on the platform that’s nationwide, and Indonesia actually enacted a temporary ban on the platform in 2018.
Why is Tik Tok bad?
TikTok addresses dangerous challenges, censorship and security. TikTok has been getting a lot of attention over the past year — and not necessarily for good reasons. … On the other hand, the app has received some bad press for everything from promoting dangerous challenges to allegedly censoring creators.
Is TikTok banned in America?
Donald Trump’s administration contends that TikTok poses national security concerns as personal data collected on 100 million Americans who use the app could be obtained by China’s government. … In August, Trump signed an executive order to ban TikTok if it did not sell its US operations in 45 days.
How are they banning TikTok?
The injunction means that TikTok will remain online and usable in the United States past Nov. … TikTok was set to be effectively banned in the United States on Nov. 12 after President Trump issued an executive order in August stating it was a national security threat due to its parent company’s ties to China.
Are they getting rid of TikTok?
“Basic TikTok will stay intact until November 12,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox Business News. “If there is not a deal by November 12 under the provisions of the old order, then TikTok also will be, for all practical purposes, shut down.”
Why did the US ban TikTok?
On 6 August, Donald Trump published executive orders targeting the viral video app TikTok and messaging app WeChat. The orders declared that the two apps would be blocked from processing transactions for US citizens and from being downloaded in US app stores after 45 days, or on 20 September, due to security concerns.
Why Tik Tok is dangerous?
Danger #2: Data mining, selling, and storage The first concern many users (and parents of young users) have about TikTok is the way data is stored and potentially shared. … “All of these platforms, at least in part, are monetizing your data. That’s what they do. And the more data they have, the more money they can make.
What would happen if TikTok got banned?
That does rely on TikTok’s servers still sending information to the app. But if TikTok has been removed from app stores, users won’t receive updates. And that might eventually break features — and make devices less secure if the app can’t get necessary security updates and patches.
Can Trump actually ban TikTok?
Can Trump really ban TikTok? The short answer is no, said Hank Schless a security manager at Lookout. … “It would be up to Google, Apple and Microsoft, as the purveyors of the operating systems, to enforce a ban and ensure users delete TikTok.” Those companies are not likely to comply with such an order, he said.


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Below are some of the articles that the MLC lobby team has been reading this past week. We hope you find them as interesting and useful as we do.
George Washington Has a Warning for Donald Trump – And All of Us – What did Washington have to say about the party system, which is quite fitting today?
The Right Kind of Exercise May Boost Memory and Lower Dementia Risk – Two recent studies have underscored the belief that physical fitness is important to our mental fitness, especially as we age.
Three Authentic Writers Have Occupied the Oval Office – A look at the books that presidents have written, both pre and post-presidency.
U.S. Distances Itself from Online Voting, West Virginia Gets Closer – As West Virginia continues to embrace mobile voting, concerns are being raised that are causing the nation to press the pause button on allowing voting for national elections via an app.
The Mystery of the $2,000 Ikea Shopping Bag – Why are an increasing number of high-end brands utilizing lower-end fashion and items in their brand?
Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.


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BBC CAMBS BREAKFAST SHOW - Steve Jobs tribute by Matt Hagger
Google +: Will it go big (part 2) BBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast Tech Thursdays: Talking cars, facial recognition and hybrids (Part2)
BBC Breakfast: Tech Thursday...Social media for dummies and a plug for Audioboo...
Matt Hagger discusses Twitpic's change in terms regarding selling consumer generated media on BBC Breakfast Show (Non tech audience)
Google + Can it go big? (part 3) BBC Breakfast
BBC Tech Thursdays..Rick Rolling, Iphone 5, Fake Apple stores, Zuckerberg and more...
A royal twedding... Tech Thursday BBC Radio
BBC Breakfast show: Tech Thursday... Cookies, the internet files not the biscuits...
Spotify new business model - my thoughs on tech thursday BBC Radio Cambridgeshire


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Facebook Updates PMD Requirements
Facebook is once again accepting applications for its Preferred Marketing Developer (PMD) Program after temporarily closing the ad program to new candidates last month pending updated requirements.
The social network on Monday announced PMD applicants must now be referred by a Facebook employee or a current PMD vendor. Facebook also set additional requirements for earning badges for qualification across the four areas of expertise covered by its partners: ads, apps, insights and pages.
"These new requirements will facilitate the implementation of features such as boosting Page content in news feed, accessing Open Graph insights for app developers or taking a holistic view on pages insights across owned, paid and earned media," stated a post on Facebook Studio today.
All PMDs and candidates, for example, must be be able to advise marketers on ad spending to amplify word of mouth and ensure success on the platform. That means being able to show successful campaigns already run on Facebook, how you would pitch Facebook with clients, and “how closely you followow Facebook Marketing channels such as official page updates, micro sites or Webinars.”
In lieu of a referral by a Facebook employee, an applicant will need to get a referral from a PMD with an Ads badge. That underscores Facebook’s emphasis on having partners with experience developing paid as well as earned and owned media strategies. It also fits with the company's broader efforts in the last year to ramp up advertising in connection with going public.
The new requirements go into effect immediately for PMD applicants, while existing program partners will have until October to comply.


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Debenhams has taken on DHL Supply Chain to handle its online orders this Christmas, with demand increasing by an average of 250 per cent, or 300 per cent during peak ordering times.
This year, Debenhams said mobile sales are proving a strong growth area, with online sales up around 40 per cent on 2012.
DHL is managing some 150,000 product lines for the retailer throughout the festive period, operating its Sherburn and Peterborough warehouses 24/7.
The company also took on an additional 2,000 members of staff at its fulfilment centres, to cope with high demand, equalling an uplift of 400 per cent on normal staffing levels.
Of all Debenhams’ online products, DHL said the most popular this season have been Calvin Klein men’s underwear, the Vtech Playtime Bus, and Hello Kitty’s body art transfer set and beauty box.


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Following two successive declines, the quarterly composite index of future business activity in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy compiled by the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI increased slightly in March. The index now stands at 71, up one point from 70 in December 2004, but still below last September's 75 and the index's all-time high of 80 in July 2004. The Arlington, Va.-based business and public policy research group released its latest data on April 14.
Although release of the group's leading indicator comes as some economists are significantly revising downward their forecasts for overall U.S. GDP growth for the first and second calendar quarters of 2005, "an index of 71 is very strong in absolute terms and signals that manufacturing output is expected to increase over the next three months," says Donald A. Norman, the alliance economist who overseas the survey of senior financial executives from which the index is calculated. "It is clear that most senior financial executives are confident that their companies will continue growing in 2005."
The alliance's composite index of future business activity is a weighted sum of prospective shipments, backlogs, inventories and profit margins. An index number above 50 indicates that the manufacturing sector generally is expanding; a figure below 50 signals that manufacturing generally is expected to decline during the next calendar quarter. The alliance stresses that its index measures the direction of change rather than the absolute strength of the U.S. manufacturing sector.
Some 67 senior financial executives in alliance member companies took part in the latest survey of current and future business conditions. Questionnaires were sent to them at the beginning of March, with responses due by March 29.
Delving into the overall index's details, the prospective shipments index rose to 91% in March 2005 from 86% in December 2004. In March, 84% of survey respondents expected shipments to rise, up from 79% in December of last year. Only 1% of respondents expected shipments would be lower.
The backlogs index was 81% in March, down from December's 85%. "The backlogs index remains strong, however, and shows that backlogs are expanding on a year-to-year basis," says economist Norman. "Just 9% of the respondents reported that backlogs are down from last year, while 71% said backlogs are up."
The inventory index rose to 74% in March from 72% last December, with 66% of survey respondents reporting inventories higher than a year ago and only 18% saying inventories were lower. "The fact that inventories have increased over the past year reflects rising demand for manufactured goods as well as expectations that demand will continue growing," says Norman.
The profit margin index slipped a single point in March, to 66% from 67% in December. Nevertheless, adds Norman, "the profit margin index remains well above the 50% level, indicating that, for most firms, profit margins are higher than one year ago when they were recovering from a rather severe decline."
Although not included in its composite index of future business activity, significantly the alliance's index of export orders reached a record high of 90% in March. The previous all-time high was last December's 89%. "At 90%, the index indicates that export orders for most manufacturing industries will be higher for the first quarter [of 2005] on a year-to-year basis," notes Norman. "The strength of this index is attributable in part to the decline of the [U.S.] dollar against most major currencies."
Indeed, 68% of the alliance's survey respondents said their companies had benefited from currency translations associated with the fall of the dollar, and 35% claimed the fall in the dollar's value had resulted in increased exports. Some 21% said they have benefited from the dollar's fall because imports from Europe are more expensive. Some 21% said they've been hurt because exports from facilities abroad are more expensive. Only 13% of the respondents said their companies have not been affected very much by the decline in the dollar's value. (The survey allowed for multiple responses.)


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Nothing like a government probe to spoil your plans.
The deal that had Mamma.com acquiring Copernic is no more. According to this news release, Copernic pulled out of the deal due to the now "formal" SEC investigation of Mamma.com that we blogged about the other day. Thanks to Eric Baillargeon for the news tip.
Twitter Canada MD Kirstine Stewart to Keynote Toronto
ClickZ Live Toronto (May 14-16) is a new event addressing the rapidly changing landscape that digital marketers face. The agenda focuses on customer engagement and attaining maximum ROI through online marketing efforts across paid, owned & earned media. Register now and save!


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News By Tag
* Office Coffee
* Table-top Vending
* Hot Beverages
* Coffee Shop
* Coffee Vending
* Recession Busting
* More Tags...
News By Location
Table Top Vending Machine Challenges Migration To Coffee Shops
Westomatic Vending Services Ltd, a leading UK vending machine manufacturer has reported a sharp rise in the sales of its Prelude table top hot beverage machine, which it somewhat surprisingly attributes in part to the economic downturn.
Westomatic has also seen a rise in interest in its Coffee Tower concept, a custom-built unit that houses the Prelude table top machine and takes it into a new retail setting. According to Mark, the success of this could also be due in part to the recession: “Shoppers and commuters are possibly being more choosy with how they spend their cash, and are opting to buy premium quality, café style drinks at low prices from a vending machine, in preference to the high street coffee shops.
Mark concludes: “Despite the economic downturn, this is a real shot in the arm for vending, especially at a time when high street coffee chains such as Coffee Republic and Starbucks are struggling.”
For further information contact Westomatic on + 44 (0)1626 323100 or email email@example.com Website:
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# # #
Westomatic is a leading UK manufacturer of hot and cold beverage vending machines, and a supplier of snack and food vending machines.
Established in 1966, Westomatic has developed a reputation for innovation over its 43 year history.


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Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes — not that we’re counting.
If you know anything about Philly’s startup scene, you’ve heard of Bob Moul. He got his start as a high schooler in the mailroom at EDS, and went on to lead multi-million dollar software businesses and raise venture capital for a cloud computing company acquired by Dell. Moul’s next adventure is as CEO of Cloudamize, a cloud infrastructure analytics company based at 17th and Market streets.
Moul has been with Artisan Mobile for the last three and a half years, serving as CEO of the first platform that enabled real-time changes to deployed mobile apps without resubmitting to app stores. The company was acquired by TUNE.
“The Cloudamize value proposition could not be more clear,” Moul said in a statement he released about his new role. “We want to help our customers get the best possible performance for the lowest possible cost, so they can realize the full potential of the cloud.”
Company Founder Khushboo Shah will stay on as chair of the board of directors.
Moul maintains his board roles with Philly Startup Leaders, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, Philadelphia Alliance of Capital and Technology, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA, Philadelphia Academies Inc. and USA250


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The Senate continues to work to pass its six-year, $350 billion transportation funding bill, even as it acknowledges it and the House will likely adopt a House-revised $8 billion, three-month funding measure before the August recess. The House is expected to adopt the bill today. The hope is that both chambers can come up with a long-term funding bill in a conference committee after the recess.
Dell could reportedly take its SecureWorks cybersecurity business public, a move that could make the unit worth more than $1 billion, sources say. Dell purchased SecureWorks in 2011 for $612 million.
Wal-Mart and Target saw new CEOs take the helm one year ago, and they have both launched efforts to build momentum for the retailers in a competitive market. Under Greg Foran, Wal-Mart is in the process of boosting its minimum wage and improving operations and fresh foods, while Target has posted a 36% increase in share prices under Brian Cornell following its departure from the Canadian market as it moves forward with updating its merchandise mix with a focus on grocery, style, kids and wellness.
SuperValu will consider creating a separate, publicly-traded company for its Save-A-Lot discount grocery banner, in an effort to find more growth opportunities in a competitive industry, the retailer said Tuesday. The Save-A-Lot chain has more than 1,300 stores nationwide, with plans to open 100 more by early 2016.
Motorola will release a pair of new Moto X and Moto G phones in the U.S. and a third handset that it will limit to overseas sales, the Lenovo unit said Tuesday. The new $399 Moto X Style -- which will be marketed as the Moto X Pure Edition in the U.S. -- will run on any network and feature a 5.7-inch display. A revamped Moto G, Motorola's most popular phone, will cost $180.
American Eagle Outfitters saw a same-store sales increase of 7% in the first quarter and is in the process of shedding its reliance on sales and discounts by improving its inventory management and clothing offerings. "If we don't get clogged up in inventory, then we can really react to what's working, or what's not working," said Chad Kessler, the retailer's global brand president.
Large surfaces such as walls, tables or other areas could serve as displays from mobile and connected devices with technology under development at Fujitsu Laboratories. Multiple users could access the system, displaying images on common spaces as well as individual screens.
Wendy's Bluetooth-enabled mobile ordering application has been launched in Phoenix with a promotion offering a free Frosty to encourage use. The app activates Bluetooth when a customer places an order within range, and the food is prepared for the customer to pick up upon arrival.
New data sources and a constantly expanding range of menu items coupled with a lack of classification can make data seem daunting, writes Food Genius CEO Jason Felger. Felger offers tips for assessing differences between menu items from a data standpoint -- clustering or normalizing of data, organizing the data, and classifying the data to make sense of the mess.
Macy's is launching a national a cappella competition as part of its back-to-school campaign. Schools and colleges will be invited in September to submit online entries, and the three top singing groups will receive $25,000. "For the second year in a row, we are hosting our back-to-school marketing activation on YouTube to reach our target audience where they spend their time," said a spokeswoman.


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At the second edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC), Huawei is showcased its industry leading technologies and innovations targeted towards bringing digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. After a successful launch of the critically acclaimed Huawei P-series and Nova series, at the ongoing event, Huawei Consumer Business announced that the company aims to strengthen its premium portfolio in India with the launch of its highly anticipated flagship devices next month.
The upcoming devices are an expression of the Mate Series’ DNA. As part of the most advanced smartphone series, these devices will offer consumers a compelling combination of powerful AI, flagship performance, longer battery life, advanced security, a greater videography experience, and more—all wrapped in a sophisticated design. These are the ultimate devices made for those who will not settle for anything less than perfection.
By developing the core technologies of chips and the cloud, Huawei is focused on delivering the user experiences that defines the future of smartphone in the smart era. The success received on the recently launched devices demonstrates that the company understands the market, and shows its commitment to innovation and R&D. The upcoming devices will allow consumers to unleash their creative potential and use the devices to their full capabilities.
The latest HUAWEI Mate 20 Series represents the best of On-Device AI—or ‘a higher intelligence.’ It brings a smarter AI experience closer to consumers. Furthermore, it inspires creativity and productivity; it empowers users to express themselves, unhindered by technological bottlenecks. Through taking advantage of the intelligence of the Dual-NPU, the lenses of the new Leica Triple Camera, the longevity of the large batteries, consumers can unleash their potential and live their lives to the fullest.


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Philips, along with most other companies, showed their version of a Glasses-Free 3D TV at this year’s CES. And Philips stood out. Their ultra-low profile 60-inch Glasses-Free 3D TV is unfortunately, still a prototype. However, it was noted that unlike other models, the Philips offered a much wider horizontal-plane viewing area. This allows for larger […]
Entries Tagged as 'CES'
January 28th, 2013 · No Comments · 3D Content, Newsflash
January 16th, 2012 · No Comments · HDGURU3D News
With Samsung making such bold moves at CES this year, it’s biggest competition continues to do what they’re best at.
January 2nd, 2012 · No Comments · HDGURU3D News
CES 2012 maybe bringing out some true 3D competition as 3D Systems makes a big announcement about the upcoming convention.
December 30th, 2011 · No Comments · HDGURU3D News
Excitement is already building for this upcoming year’s CES coming to Las Vegas in January and rumors are starting to fly about one particular phone to be released by Samsung.


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Siemens Healthineers to collaborate with German drone manufacturer and service provider Wingcopter to pilot an integrated drone delivery solution for healthcare facilities throughout Africa
The Association of African Exhibition Organisers emphasises the importance of connection and collaboration in business tourism to support in the economic growth of the continent.
In the article, Udhveer Sookraj explains how a new approach to cloud computing allows businesses that aren’t fully prepared for migration to still benefit from the cloud while using their own on-premises systems. This enhances security and simplifies compliance.
Fintech, Kenya News, Startups
AWS announces the 25 startups selected for its first ‘fintech in Africa’ accelerator
Cohort participants from Kenya, Nigeria , South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Uganda, and Cameroon 25 African fintech startups have been selected for the inaugural Amazon Web Services (AWS) FinTech Africa Accelerator cohort. This cohort was selected from over 500 applications and is part of the EMEA Startup Loft Accelerator (SLA) program run by AWS. The pre-seed […]
This article discusses why it is right decision for start-ups to set up a business in Mauritius.
Africa Travel, South Africa News
Resilience and collaboration among top themes at the sixth Hotel & Hospitality Show
The African hotel and hospitality market has immense resilience and potential. Recognising this and facilitating a platform for African hospitality to thrive, the Hotel & Hospitality Show, hosted by dmg and Kaoun took place at the Sandton Convention Centre last week to foster growth and collaboration within the sector.
Fintech, South Africa News
Hello, Joburg? The 90s called, they want their parking payment machines back
South African cities, such as Johannesburg, are striving to become smart cities by creating an intelligent and safe urban environment. However, the lack of efficient parking management systems has hindered this progress.
In its Centenary year, the ICC’s International Court of Arbitration has set servicing African commercial disputes as one of its top strategic priorities. Speaking as the 7th ICC Africa Conference on International Arbitration prepares to kick off in Lagos at the end of this month, (31 May to 2 June), ICC Court President Claudia Salomon […]
The study shows fraud remains a significant source of profit erosion for businesses trading online.
Business, South Africa News
More resources, more problems: Understanding the African mining landscape
The African continent is richly endowed in natural resources, with platinum, silver, gold, copper and cobalt some of our best-known commodities.
Family owned businesses in Africa make a considerable contribution to the economic prosperity of the continent and this is likely to be the case in the long-term future too.
By Shaun Holley, Deputy CEO & Head of Innovation & Rory Bosman, Sales & Marketing Executive at Ecentric Payment Systems Today’s consumers have access to a myriad of convenient experiences through mobile apps and online platforms, and they expect a similar level of ease when interacting with businesses and specifically payment interactions. Indeed, consumer demand […]
By Angela Simpson and Lydia Shadrach-Razzino, Partners and Co-heads of the Corporate/M&A Practice, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg Private markets in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have seen a continuous rise in activity since the COVID 19 pandemic. The latest AVCA Private Capital Activity Report 2022 revealed that USD 7.6 billion of private capital was invested in 2022, resulting in a […]
Energy, Nigeria News
Nigeria’s industry is rising to the twin challenge of decarbonisation and energy security
Wale Yusuff, the Managing Director of Wärtsilä in Nigeria, explains how businesses operating in energy-intensive industries like cement or steel are investing in flexible engine technologies to secure reliable and efficient power while also setting the perfect stage to make good on their decarbonisation objectives. Nigeria is a major industrial hub. It is home to […]
The South African economy recorded zero growth for the first quarter of 2023, following a fourth quarter of negative growth in 2022.
Traditionally, South Africa has been a popular country among fraudsters looking for every opportunity to try and find their next victim.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning have become increasingly popular in recent years, with businesses and industries leveraging the power of AI to make smarter decisions.
Achieving Food Security Through Private Sector Investment: The Battle of Narratives
Africa is well positioned to become the global breadbasket; with 60 % of the world’s unused cropland spread across the continent that can be used for farming, it has the potential to emerge as a major food supplier.
South Africa News
Innovation and investment: Key to the growth of the African transport and logistics sectors
Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo to address key challenges, opportunities and solutions for the improvement of ports, rails and roads in Africa
Sentech Africa Tech Week 2023 welcomed over 400 guests to the Century City Conference Centre in the host city, City of Cape Town, for another exciting chapter in the continent’s innovation conversation.
Africa Tech Summit (ATS) London, the leading tech conference that drives business and investment across the continent, will host the seventh London edition on June 23rd live at the London Stock Exchange.
We have outlined the journey which offers valuable lessons to other countries interested in learning about the ‘how’ of gender mainstreaming.


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Google is planning on launching a service, literally, that will deliver items via flying drones. It is calling this Project Wing.
Technically this project will be run by the newly named holding company for Google, Alphabet.
Amazon is also working on a drone delivery service that it calls Prime Air. While this may have started earlier, the Alphabet version appears to be aiming high with a drone aviation control system planned too.
So what is there to know about Project Wing? When will it arrive, what will it deliver and who will be able to use it? We've laid it all out below and will be updating as more information becomes available.
Project Wing wants to change aviation
Alphabet's Project Wing is more than just creating drones that can make deliveries. It's about creating a new system of aviation control that will make that delivery method safe and efficient.
At the moment drones are getting into all sorts of trouble, being shot down from private land, attacked by animals and in one case shutting down power in hundreds of buildings after a crash. A system of control should help get over these issues, well maybe not the bird attacks.
The new drone air traffic control system will use cellular and internet technology to coordinate the vehicles at under 152 metres (500 feet). Project Wing has already conducted testing of this service with Nasa and is working with the Federal Aviation Authority to get this system up and running in 12 months.
Each drone can travel fast
Alphabet has already shown off its early stage Wing drones. According to tweets from the company these are able to cover five miles in just minutes.
The prototype models currently being tested are 1.5 metres wide and 0.8 metres tall. They use four propellers like a quad-copter and are shaped, you guessed it, like a big wing. In testing videos the Wing takes off vertically before levelling out when in full-speed forward motion.
To drop off packages, which appear small at this stage, it lowers them via a tether which recoils back up once the item is on the ground. Although in early testing videos these were simply dropped from a lower height.
Presumably these drone will be available to everyone but it's likely, based on testing in the outback of Australia, that it will appear in more rural areas first. These likely will have most need for it initially anyway.
Weather Alphabet will work with other services, like Amazon, or if it will simply offer delivery of items via Google's own shopping search is unclear.
Project wing should arrive by 2017
Alphabet's Project Wing leader David Vos has said the drones should be ready to start delivering packages by 2017.
He goes on to say that the drone registry, that works with the FAA, could be setup within 12 months.
Finally he points out that the Obama administration hopes to set a drone registry in place by 20 December. This would be a first step towards creating a system that allow for commercial drone delivery use, safely.


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Customs allows e-clearance for moving laptops
The Customs clearance required for moving equipment like laptops, desktops, etc out of SEZ units was delaying things as the clearance had to be taken in person after a first level of approval online.
As work from home for information technology (IT) firms gets increasingly feasible, the industry and the government worked together to remove a practical hurdle that required the industry to get Customs approval physically, in addition to an online clearance, in record time.
The Customs clearance required for moving equipment like laptops, desktops, etc out of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units was delaying things as the clearance had to be taken in person after a first level of approval online.
The director general of export promotion under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs worked with IT services body National Association of Software and Service Companies and other industry players to allow online approvals for such movement.
The Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20) allows authorised employees of software technology park (STP) units to work from a place outside the unit, and they are allowed to temporarily take laptop or computers and video projection systems out of the STP unit.
The Software Technology Parks of India allow for this approval online, but Customs clearance required one to physically take approval.
Given the current situation with the ongoing pandemic, and the government announcing a complete lockdown, taking clearances from the Customs department for movement of each piece of equipment was going to be cumbersome.
The Customs authorities took prompt action once alerted to the issue, and resolved it within two days.
“In view of present COVID-19 crisis and removal of mandatory warehousing in 2016, such endorsement can be done electronically over email and acknowledgement can also be provided over email without the need for a physical visit to the Customs office,” the directorate general of export promotion said in its reply to the industry on Wednesday.
This means that IT companies providing work from home facility to its employees by allowing them to take laptops and desktops and other equipment home, will be able to do so much faster.
To ensure the continuity of operations in India’s biggest foreign exchange earning sector, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had on Tuesday pushed the home ministry to allow certain senior management of companies in the IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) space to operate from their office premises.
This included “employees who are classified as ‘mission critical’ and associated with ‘essential services’ by the top management of the company,” said the Ravi Shankar Prasad-led ministry.
Also, it wanted companies to be allowed to self certify which staff is mission critical.
However, the home ministry had refused the plan, arguing the difficulties involved in compiling a list of designations which can be termed ‘mission critical’, for thousands of IT/ITeS companies working in different capacities.
It had also pointed out that other industries may also demand the same.
Instead, it had pointed out that all ground staff dealing with loading, transportation, and delivery has been allowed for e-commerce companies – currently classified critical to the sustainability of the ongoing 21-day lockdown.
For all other categories of privately held business, the home ministry has firmly stated that most employees need to stay home.
On the other hand, with many online service providers based out of SEZs, senior functionaries at the Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs (EPCES) on Thursday said they have been assured by the commerce department that current restrictions on the staff movement will be progressively reduced by next week.
Photograph: Courtesy Pixabay.com
Source: Read Full Article


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- HSBC starts coverage of Britannia Industries shares with 'overweight', price target Rs 1,100India's Britannia Industries gains after Kotak starts at 'buy'Initiate 'buy' on Britannia Industries shares, target price Rs 1,050: Kotak Institutional EquitiesContract workers go on strike at Britannia's Delhi factory
Bakery and dairy products maker Britannia Industries today reported a 27 per cent increase in net profit at Rs 113.66 crore for the first quarter June 30, 2014.
The company had posted a net profit of Rs 89.49 crore in the same period of previous fiscal, Britannia Industries said in a filing to the BSE.
The net sales of the company rose to Rs 1,772.63 crore during the quarter, up 15.13 per cent against Rs 1539.62 crore in the same period of previous fiscal.
Commenting on the results, Britannia Industries Managing Director Varun Berry said: "Our results are a reflection of our focus on driving consumer off-take and leveraging fundamental levers of operations to generate sustainable and profitable growth."
Shares of Britannia Industries today closed at Rs 1,135 apiece on BSE, down 1.87 per cent from their previous close.